Didn't Aryabhatta, the one who invented zero, live in an era much earlier than the 3rd or 4th century ?
aryabhatta was between 476 to 550 AD
really??
Bakhshali manuscript: oldest recorded use of the zero symbol
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Re: Bakhshali manuscript: oldest recorded use of the zero symbol
#12Highly recommend "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" [1] if you're interested in learning more about the number zero. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Zero-Biography-Dangerous-Charles-Seif...
Seems like fake history...
Re: Bakhshali manuscript: oldest recorded use of the zero symbol
#13> Now scientists have traced the origins of this conceptual leap to an ancient Indian text, known as the Bakhshali manuscript – a text which has been housed in the UK since 1902. "Housed" is a nice soft word for stealing. The English plundered all kinds of treasure from the lands they invaded and annexed. This and even the Rosetta Stone from Egypt. (saying this as an Indian). [EDIT: Why the downvotes? by 1900 the Eng…
There was no shortage of outright stealing but it doesn't seem to be the case here. For one thing, it likely wasn't seen (other than by specialists) as a cultural artifact of quite the importance we give it today. The accounts of its discovery and early work done on it don't say anything about theft (including the Indian ones I can find). The fact it was found in what is today Pakistan probably means nobody on any side wants to as much as think about the can of worms any discussion about repatriation would be.
Re: Bakhshali manuscript: oldest recorded use of the zero symbol
#14I think this article fails to capture the importance of zero. While the idea of zero itself isn't staggeringly mind blowing, the real greatness with zero came in with development of decimal/ Hindu (positional) numerical system and zero indicating nothing in a position which led to simplicity in doing arithmetic.
For example can you think of the rules to multiply XVIV with XXV or can you quickly calculate what the result of that will be without translating to a decimal number system ? Exactly!
With the use of zero and the the development of rules for decimal arithmetic (Brahmagupta), the hindu numeral system became superior to the roman numeral system and thus led to its wide adoption (The decimal number system was promoted by Fibonacci in the west and some people consider that to be his greatest achievement).
Re: Bakhshali manuscript: oldest recorded use of the zero symbol
#15> Now scientists have traced the origins of this conceptual leap to an ancient Indian text, known as the Bakhshali manuscript – a text which has been housed in the UK since 1902. "Housed" is a nice soft word for stealing. The English plundered all kinds of treasure from the lands they invaded and annexed. This and even the Rosetta Stone from Egypt. (saying this as an Indian). [EDIT: Why the downvotes? by 1900 the Eng…
Far from all artifacts held by the English were stolen. Plenty were bought. Yes, things like keeping the Parthenon marbles are bullshit, but that doesn't mean that everything originating from outside the British isles was stolen.
Re: Bakhshali manuscript: oldest recorded use of the zero symbol
#16> Now scientists have traced the origins of this conceptual leap to an ancient Indian text, known as the Bakhshali manuscript – a text which has been housed in the UK since 1902. "Housed" is a nice soft word for stealing. The English plundered all kinds of treasure from the lands they invaded and annexed. This and even the Rosetta Stone from Egypt. (saying this as an Indian). [EDIT: Why the downvotes? by 1900 the Eng…
to the victor go the spoils
Re: Bakhshali manuscript: oldest recorded use of the zero symbol
#17I think this article fails to capture the importance of zero. While the idea of zero itself isn't staggeringly mind blowing, the real greatness with zero came in with development of decimal/ Hindu (positional) numerical system and zero indicating nothing in a position which led to simplicity in doing arithmetic. For example can you think of the rules to multiply XVIV with XXV or can you quickly calculate what the res…
Rather than type it out, this link gives a good rundown:
http://www.actforlibraries.org/the-importance-of-zero-in-mat...
Namely, I think you don't give poor zero quite enough respect. Zero is one of the biggest advancements to mathematics. Anyone can count to one, and even count multiple sets of one. The idea that nothing is something is underrated.
Poor zero is often not given due credit.
Re: Bakhshali manuscript: oldest recorded use of the zero symbol
#18American mathematical society has a featured column related to use of zero in India:
http://www.ams.org/samplings/feature-column/fcarc-india-zero...
Re: Bakhshali manuscript: oldest recorded use of the zero symbol
#19I think this article fails to capture the importance of zero. While the idea of zero itself isn't staggeringly mind blowing, the real greatness with zero came in with development of decimal/ Hindu (positional) numerical system and zero indicating nothing in a position which led to simplicity in doing arithmetic. For example can you think of the rules to multiply XVIV with XXV or can you quickly calculate what the res…
There were positional number systems before there was a separate symbol for zero. People weren't flailing about with Roman numerals or similar systems until a symbol for zero was invented.
Re: Bakhshali manuscript: oldest recorded use of the zero symbol
#20> Now scientists have traced the origins of this conceptual leap to an ancient Indian text, known as the Bakhshali manuscript – a text which has been housed in the UK since 1902. "Housed" is a nice soft word for stealing. The English plundered all kinds of treasure from the lands they invaded and annexed. This and even the Rosetta Stone from Egypt. (saying this as an Indian). [EDIT: Why the downvotes? by 1900 the Eng…
> The English plundered [...] (saying this as an Indian).
I find it interesting that expensive physical artifacts loom larger than impalpables such as language and political system.
(The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' were pikers compared to Hume and Locke ...)